President Clinton Addresses Fortune Global Forum Delegates

美国总统克林顿在财富论坛上的讲话

I am delighted to have the opportunity to join all of you today for the FORTUNE Global Forum in Shanghai. With nearly 500 CEOs from all around the world and many distinguished participants from China, this is truly an extra extraordinary gathering.

I was in Shanghai a little more than a year ago. I saw first-hand how the oldest civilization on earth is becoming young again. It's impossible not to marvel at the extraordinary pace of change, or to see in Shanghai the tremendous potential for China's future.

The U.S. sees China's continued economic growth as beneficial to our nation and to the world. China's progress ensures the well-being of nearly a quarter of the world's population. Its growing openness to the world can bring better jobs, better pay, and greater prosperity to the American people as well. And it can contribute to the global store of knowledge and prosperity. That's why I believe it is vital to make China a full and constructive member of the international trading system.

As I said to business leaders in Shanghai last July, and as all of you know well, China faces major challenges in advancing economic progress beyond the present point - including more restructuring of state-owned enterprises, developing a transparent legal and regulatory system, preserving the environment as the economy grows, and providing greater openness and accountability of its government and freedom of expression to its people.

The United States is prepared to work with China in meeting all these challenges. The extraordinary group that is gathered for the FORTUNE Global Forum both reflects your confidence in China's future and will help assure this future will meet its great promise.

Thank you for your efforts and I wish you every success in your meeting.